BATON ROUGE – According to an article published by the New York Times, the United States continues to undergo one of its most difficult, economic hardships since the Great Depression. On Wednesday, Oct. 5, LSU's Black Male Leadership Initiative, or BMLI, Fellows Program held its "Ballin' on a Budget" event. The purpose of the event was to educate LSU students on fiscal responsibility and literacy during these difficult economic times.

"The event was a great success on all counts," said BMLI graduate assistant Jared Avery. "Those in attendance gained valuable knowledge to help secure a solid fiscal future, something that students can apply to today's economy."

Blaine Grimes, marketing chair of Campus Federal Credit Union, was on hand to give tips on securing a good financial future. His presentation included important strategies for establishing a strong financial record and solid credit history.

This event served as the first event held by the BMLI Fellows Program that was open to the public. More than 40 attendees, including the program's fellows, learned how to open checking and savings accounts at local banks, and how to determine their credit scores.

The BMLI Fellows Program is a two-year cohort retention and leadership development program that offers support to black male students through targeted seminars and workshops. The "Ballin' on a Budget" seminar is one of a many seminars that the fellows attend during their two years in the program.

This particular seminar was in response to the growing need for fiscal and economic responsibility in light of the recent recession and slowed economy. The program was a first step in providing financial literacy opportunities to the LSU campus, motivating students to be proactive toward their personal finances.

The BMLI Fellows Program was established by the LSU Office of Equity, Diversity & Community Outreach and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. For more information on BMLI, contact Marco Barker at 225-578-5736 or Chaunda Allen at 225-578-4339, by email at bmli@lsu.edu or visit the BMLI website at www.lsu.edu/bmli. For more information regarding Campus Federal Credit Union, please contact Grimes at 225-769-8841.